In The News
Official: Two Parts for "Deathly Hallows" Movie, David Yates to Direct Both Films
DH FilmBig News everyone! The L.A Times is reporting an exclusive today: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be made in two films, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" , and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II. Furthermore, the paper cites producer David Heyman confirming the return of David Yates as director for both films, with Steven Kloves to finish out his duties as screenwriter for both Harry Potter movies as well. The movies are to be filmed at the same time, and will be released several months apart, with Part One due November 2010, and Part Two, May 2011.
Update: The article has additional information now, with quotes from producer David Heyman on his conversation with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling on splitting the book into two films. "Heyman said he approached Rowling with some trepidation about the strategy but found that she signed off on its logic rather quickly. "I went to Jo and she was cool with it," Heyman said, "and that was quite a relief."
The newspaper continues saying "Producer David Heyman said the decision was made with some anxiety and only after considerable deliberations. The producer joked that "while my wife and Warner Brothers were pleased" to hear that the Potter movie magic will continue into the next decade, he himself fretted that the cynical observers would see the decision as a purely mercenary move."I swear to you it was born out of purely creative reasons," Heyman said during an interview in a converted airplane factory outside London that has been home base to all of the "Potter" productions. "Unlike every other book, you cannot remove elements of this book. You can remove scenes of Ron playing quidditch from the fifth book, and you can remove Hermione and S.P.E.W. [Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare] and those subplots . . . but with the seventh, that can't be done."
Actor Dan Radcliffe who portrays Harry Potter in the film is quoted as saying "I think it's the only way you can do it without cutting out a huge portion of the book," Radcliffe said recently during a break on the set of "Half-Blood Prince," the sixth "Potter" film, which is due in theaters on Nov. 21. "There have been compartmentalized subplots in the other books that have made them easier to cut - although those cuts were still to the horror of some fans- but the seventh book doesn't really have any subplots. It's one driving, pounding story from the word go."
Of interest to many fans is the spot in the book where the films will break, and producer David Heyman addresses this as he notes: "The question will be, where do you break it? And how do you make them one but two separate and distinct stories? Do you break it with a moment of suspense or one of resolution? These are the interesting challenges. But each book has presented its challenges."
Warner Bros. Chairman Alan Horn and Jeff Robinov, president of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, are expected to discuss the new plans for "Potter" on Thursday during a presentation at ShoWest, the convention of movie exhibitors in Las Vegas.
UPDATE 2The LA Times has a second story now online, containing new comments from WB Chair Alan Horn on the decision to split and the additional film time for the story "This way, we have an extra hour and a half, at least, to celebrate what this franchise has been and do justice to all the words and ideas that Jo has put in the amazing story," Horn said. "This is the end of the story too. We want to celebrate it. We want to give a full meal." Mr Horn continued on, remarking about the epilogue to "Deathly Hallows" regarding the beloved trio and how that would be translated to the big screen. "Horn said that particular denouement has the filmmakers fretting about how to keep the young familiar stars on the screen just before it goes dark. "That," Horn said, "is something we will need to deal with. People have watched these kids grow up, and it's been very special to do so. That's important to us."
Thanks much to the LA Times, Jimbo, and TML!rate this article
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ZOMG! And to think that I was sitting in driving lessons while this was all going on. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
I haven’t been so excited since the release date announcement of DH!
YAY!!!!!! I cannot express how happy I am right now!!!!!!!! CAPS LOCK KERRI IS HERE!!!!! YAY!!!!! With multiple exclamation points in tow!!!!!!!
Haha nice tease (kinda like Cho!) about where they will cut off the first one, I was like OMG but then they didn’t say gah. Oh well I am sooooooo happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 movies: Makes me jump with joy! David Yates: Are you serious? This guy did the worst job ever with the fifth book. He completely spoiled Sirius’ death? Isn’t anybody else outraged by this? Please, lets revolt! Bring Alfonso Cuaron back!!!!!!!!!
Hey, I know some people are complaining about the six month wait, but they might release the first part on DVD so we can re-watch it before the second part. That’s the part I’m dreading, the wait. Other than that, I’m pumped. Now I wish we would get some news on that HBP trailer…
I think it’s great that Yates is directing the last movies! You’ve got to give him credit for turning OOTP into a 2 and a half hour movie because it’s so big! You can’t expect so much from such a strict guideline for the 5th movie.
YAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alfonso Cuaron made a very good film, but at the same time it was the least Potterish of all – they didn’t even explain the Marauder’s Map! Yates is the only one that seemed to have respect for the stories
As fans of the books we have all sat throught five soon to be six movies and watched as our favorite parts were cut from the movies, But now the fans will get to see the movies we diserved! Let March 12, 2008 be a day of greatness for true harry potter fans everywhere! Finnaly we will get to see the hour Harry Potter movie we have been asking for! Just in two parts!
AAAAHH!!! I couldn’t be any happier! :-D
Every other time someone would say, “let’s split the books into two movies,” I would cringe. I felt that books 1-6 could easily be cut enough to fit into a 2-3 hour movie, even though I am a HUGE fan of the books and would likely be upset with some of the cuts.
With book 7 though, I just couldn’t think of any way to fit all of the information contained in that book into one movie. For the first time, I felt that 2 movies was the only way to fit in all of the plot… and all of the plot really does need to be told in order to tie up all the loose ends for moviegoers.
And of course, David Yates did an incredible job with movie 5. It was the happiest I’d felt since the first movie (2-4 just didn’t click for me the way the books did), and I was SO hoping that he’d stick around for the last book!
It’s everything I wanted for our last Harry Potter book-to-screen! YEA!
I think it’s funny how Yates was the only director that was willing to make hp5 in its limited length, and now he’s the only director that gets to make an extra long hp7! Seems to be his reward :-)
The only thing about Yates that I did not like in OOTP was that there were no transitions but gee thanks a lot for that because he got to fit more in!!! And also when Harry is randomly picking something off his robes I was like “YOU COULD’VE FIT SO MUCH MORE IN IF YOU TOOK THAT OUT!!!” rawffle! lol
yeah i’m sorry. when i first read that, i flipped out. biggest joke of my life.
Hmmm…. I’m not sure. To me it seems like a easy way to extend the series in one more movie and make more money out of it. Only one movie with a little over 3 hours would do the job well, I guess.
But… two movies equals more details…and that can never be bad.
Still… it bothers me a little thinking that this could be only a plan to gain more money… a sucessful one, since my money is definetly going to both movies.
But prepare yourselves for that empty feeling everybody gets when the movie ends without an ending… that’s gonna be depressing. =9
I’m excited about this move—it will actually do the book justice (although I’m pretty sure there will be at least a few changes, such as ending part 1 and how to open up part 2).
“I thought they were going to start filming DH in Feb ‘09—why do they have to wait until ‘10 to release the first part?? I like Celia’s idea: break it just before Harry opens the door to Griphook’s room. (though I really didn’t want 2 films, just one LONG one.)”
They still are. The problem is with all the technology and stuff, post-production can take a while longer for visual effects to be finalized and rendered. Plus add in the factor that David Yates will be directing 2 films at the same time, they have to plan out both films before even shooting. Pre-production will definitely take a while, even with existing sets and stuff.
YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!!!!! woah i love this news!!! I do wish we had a different director, however we are judging Yates on his work on what was by far the most difficult book to adapt, so we could be being a bit harsh. Cauron would have been pretty cool though!
I don’t think that the initial thought was to split this for more money. If anyone admires HP you would want to fit in as much as you could and then the money would be an extra incentive.
I am honestly gonna freak out if one more person says they are doing two movies just forthe money. THEY ARE NOT!!!!
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Okay, so I just saw this story @ nytimes.com, and my first reaction was “Holy crap!” I’m not sure why I was so surprised; I’d been hearing the rumors and they seemed pretty credible. I think maybe it was just the shock of seeing Potter news at nytimes instead of at Leaky. :)
I find it oddly heartwarming that Heyman swears the decision was for purely creative reasons. I mean, obviously no one would ever say they were doing such a thing for mercenary reasons, but it was still kind of cool that he swore his innocence. Manly, or something.
Anyway, I’m fine with having two films. It is true, after all, that DH doesn’t really have subplots the way the other books do. I just hope they end with some kind of resolution instead of a total cliffhanger. Cliffhangers are great in books, because they make you keep turning the pages, but they really lose something when you’re forced to wait months for the resolution.